Chev 6 Seater Utility

[Mike Cecil]

Doing a great job there, Wayne. One of the more unusual Australian vehicles and because of the construction, very, very few survive.

Your vehicle is, indeed, ARN 67654 and is a lone entry amongst other types. The engine number was listed as SR3836204, and curiously, the chassis was listed as 2842130071, whereas the plate clearly shows 2842100071 - which only goes to prove the Army clerks transcribing the information didn't always get it right.

It was taken on charge in Western Australia, and probably remained there for its entire military career, being declared for disposal at 5BOD on 3 December 1953.

The Formation sign of the flying black swan on a gold background was the post-war insignia of Western Command introduced in the late 1940s or early 1950s: the earliest date I have for its use is October 1952.

Western Command in the Second World War originally had no formation sign as such, but in 1944 the Magpie on a Boomerang sign was introduced. The 'W' sign you mention was part of the Unit sign, rather than the formation sign. Its earliest use was as the area designator for Lines of Communication units, where it appeared in the middle of the 2 inch wide white line across the bottom edge of the Unit sign.

Later the 'W' was used in place of the numerator for units with a territorial affiliation, eg W over 707 was the WA Echelon and Records Section. The territorial letter system was introduced in 1945. Units without a territorial affiliation or 'non-standard' units continued to use the numerator/denominator system of numbers.

You mention that the nose section is a replacement, and I'm curious as to how you came to that conclusion. The body and the nose section were most likely manufactured in different plants (nose at Woodville, SA, and body in the Special Body Plant at Fishermans Bend, Victoria), which would account for the differences in paint.

Again, nice truck, and being nicely restored: a real credit to you.

Mike

[Mike K]

I had a pic somewhere of the Chevy at the Caloundra museum circa 1979, it was a faded matt red/pink colour and it was in good shape, from the outside anyway .It was parked outside in the weather when I saw it . I will have a look and see if I still have the negative .

I wonder what became of it? Ken Hughes may have sold it on to somebody , in his later years he was selling some stuff but he was reluctant to part with the good items . I ended up with his Morris CS8 . Mike

[Wayne Henderson]

Thanks David, yes I will be fitting the doors as they were originally.

Hi Mike, Thanks for the information. The nose section was the only part that had been messed with. The rest of the body had cam paint finish under the top coat of Post war green, the nose section did not.
The radiator shroud had been replaced at one stage. The welding job is terrible, looks like I did it.

I would like to see any photos of other Chevs that existed Mike. They would not last long if stored outside.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I wonder what became of it? Ken Hughes may have sold it on to somebody , in his later years he was selling some stuff but he was reluctant to part with the good items . I ended up with his Morris CS8 . Mike

I believe that one is now in Adelaide.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

I believe that one is now in Adelaide.

Could be the same one maybe.

I found the old negative , a 35mm Kodak . I need somebody with a scanner to enlarge it .

I can see in the negative that the front axle was missing , it's sitting on blocks , and the crew doors appear to have been filled in , the body looks like a home made contraption it's so roughly made . It's a 4X2 going by the rear axle . Were all of these utilities 4X2's ? Maybe it was a home made body and I am up the wrong tree .

[Keith Webb]

The WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust) were all built on the C15 4x2 chassis.
Ford also built their own version, the main visual difference was the use of Ford ute mudguards rather than the CMP type ones on the Chev. I believe there were a lot more of the Chevrolet type built than Ford. Mike Cecil can clarify.

I've never seen a surviving Ford version.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Could be the same one maybe.

I found the old negative , a 35mm Kodak . I need somebody with a scanner to enlarge it .

I can see in the negative that the front axle was missing , it's sitting on blocks , and the crew doors appear to have been filled in , the body looks like a home made contraption it's so roughly made . It's a 4X2 going by the rear axle . Were all of these utilities 4X2's ? Maybe it was a home made body and I am up the wrong tree .

[lynx42]

Here are a few official photos of the WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust).

1363UTILITY_6SEAT_FORD_A.jpg

1363UTILITY_6SEAT_FORD_B.jpg

1363UTILITY_6SEAT_FORD_C.jpg

1363UTILITY_6SEAT_FORD_E.jpg

1363yyyy.jpg

I have to give the credit to Cliff as he sent them to me many years ago.

[lynx42]

and here are a couple of in use photos.

1363CMP_truck_6_seater_utility_WO3_personal_carrier.jpg

1363f15pers.jpg

also from Cliffs collection.

I have some of the one at Rust Hill but it is proving a bit elusive at the moment.

It is intersting to see the different rear mudguards.

Regards Rick.

[Keith Webb]

Those two are from my site Rick. The one of the Ford originally coming from Euan's recruiting album.

Originally Posted by lynx42

and here are a couple of in use photos.

Attachment 78026

Attachment 78027

also from Cliffs collection.

I have some of the one at Rust Hill but it is proving a bit elusive at the moment.

It is intersting to see the different rear mudguards.

Regards Rick.

[Keith Webb]

Only the last one is a WO3 which is the GMH designation. The others were taken at Wesley Grammar which was taken over by the MGO and show the Ford version.

Originally Posted by lynx42

Here are a few official photos of the WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust).

Attachment 78020

Attachment 78021

Attachment 78022

Attachment 78023

Attachment 78024

I have to give the credit to Cliff as he sent them to me many years ago.

[lynx42]

Well Keith I did get them from Cliff but I am happy to give you the credit. I am just glad that they are out there for all to see. I just thought I would give credit to whoever put them out there.

Regards Rick.